The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-29
A BOLD TRAIN ROBBERY Y
SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED ON
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC,
Near TucsOP, AriZ., by a Half a
Dozen Men-They Relieve
the Express
OF OVER FIVE THOUSAND DOL.
LARS In CASH
Together With a Lot Of Postage
Stamps-0ne OF the Most
AudaciOus
AND DESPERATE AND COMPLETE
ROBBERIES on RECORD.
A Graphic Account Of the Details
Big Rewards offered for
Their Capture.

SAN Francisco, CAL., April 2S.-
Ore Of the most audsciouT, desperate
and successful train robberles that
was ever recorded occurred yesterday
on the west bound overland train on
the Southern Pacific Railroad near
Tucson, Ariz. A special dispatch to
tie ESeainq Bulletin this afternoon
from Tucson gives details OF the af-
fair as follows aThe western bound ex-
press due here at 1890 last evening,
was stopped ard robbed at Papage
Station, eighteen miles east OF here,
about $3.50 o'clock last evening. The
number OF men engaged IN the rob-
berry is variously estimated from five to
eight. Col. Harper, the engin eer, when
approaching Papago, side station,
was signaled by a red lantern to stop.
He slowed down, and as he approach
ed the light he noticed obstructions
on tie track go placed that in case he
failed to stop the engine would spread
spread the track and dersil itself. In
mediately on stopping a dCZsn or
more shots were fred into the express
car, and a man with pistol in each
uduu UOhIuou tuo lOCOunOLN0 anu
commanded Harper not to get down.
The other robbers had in the mean
time been prying open the express
car, and failing to get it open they
PLACED A STICK CT GIANT POWDER
under it and compelled Harper to
light the fuse attached. This he was
obliged to do, but to avoid being
blown up the messenger opened the
car and the robbers took possession.
After extinguishiDg the fuse they took
charge of the car, uucoupled the en-
gine, baggage and express car from
the remainder of the train and made
Harper get on the engine and pull
ahead two lengths. This being dons
Harper was again put off, and the
rob6ers&ook charge Of the engine and
pulled six miles toward Tucson. Here
they "killed" the engine and left it.
During the run the robbers went
through the NAL aud express cars,
but did moi get more than $4,000. They
got two packages of railroad money
one of $12l0 and one of $500, and also
two packages OF postage stamps & 1ing
to the postoffice at San Francisco. 1t
is reported that the express messe niger
THREW $4,000 IN GOLD INTO A STOVE
and 30 saved it from the robbers.
Nothing was known here OF the affair
until past midnight, when a telegram
was received from Psntano, a brake
man having walked back eight miles
to that place. A special was sent
doun oud kha kra;,, hxounbI - - q
O'Clock this morning. None of the
passengers were molested. Some OF
the passengers knew nothing of the
trouble until their arrival here. Un-
der Sheriff Shibell was early at the
scene of trouble, but could dis
cover nothing that would lead to
the identity OF the robbers. Ten
trsilers, under D,puty Sheriff M. F.
Shaw, have left for the scene OF the
trouble. The robbers are believed TO
be discharged railroad employees, al
though they compelled Engineer
Harper to show them how to handle
the locomotive. 1t is believed by
their actions in handling the train
that they were familiar with such
work.
Immediately upon the receipt Of
the news at the Office of.the Southern
Pacific Company, in this city, Mr.. A.
N. Towne, general manager,
assURD THE FOLLOWING CIRCULAR,
with orders to the compauy's agents
to post in conspicuous places:
fThe mail aud express cars on our
west bound express train when at q
point seventeen miles east Of Tucson,
Arizona Territory, at 10 o'clock last
night, was stopped and robbed by
four or five men. The Southern Pa
cific Railroad Company hereby offer a
reward of $1,000 each for the arrest
and conviction OF the robb srs, which
is in addition to large reward offered
by the Wells, Fargo & Go. Express.
In addition to this, we understand the
United States Postoffice Department
has standing reward OF $500 each
for the arrest and conviction OF per.
sons who engage in robbing the
mails"
From information received bv him,
General Manager Towne said this af-
ternoon, in reference to the affair:
THERE WERE FIVE SHOTS FIRED
from the band Of robbers into the ex